Electrical time-recording system



May 14, 1929. F. E. GoEcKLER 1,713,276

ELECTRICAL TIME RECORDING SYSTEM Filed Deo. 29, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet l May 14, 1929. F. E. GoEcKLER 1,713,276

ELECTRICAL TIME RECORDING SYSTEM Filed Dec. 29, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 *I I"` `l INVENTOR: M6 fff@ May 14, 1929. F. E. GoEcKLER ELECTRICAL TIME RECORDTTGSYSTEM Filed Dec. 29, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 14, 1929. F. E. Gor-:cKLER 1,713,276

ELECTRCAL TIME RECORDING SYSTEM Filed Dec. 29, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 14, 1929. F E GQEQKLERy 1,713,276

ELECTRICAL MME RECORDING SYSTEM Filed Dec. 29, 1926 5 sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORN EYS.

May 14, 1929. F. E. GoEcKLER I 1,713,276

ELECTRICAL TIME RECORDING SYSTEM f Filed Dec. 29, 1926 s sheets-sheet 6 lll' n 4 1 1 INVEN TOR -Patented May 14, 1929.

FRANK EDWARD GOECKLER, OF PHILADELPH T OFFICE.

IA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNO'R OF ONE- FOURTH TO GEORGE C. KLAUDER AND ONE-FOURTH T JOHN COX, BOTH OF, PHILA- DELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. l

ELECTRICAL TIENE-RECORDING SYSTEM.

Application led December l29, 1926. Serial No. 157,641.

My invention relates to a new and useful electrical time keeping or recording system, and it relates more particularly to ra remote control, automatic electric system, for indieating or recording-working time, and also..

for automatically checking and recording or visually to indicate the production in a shop or plant, or more part-iciilarlyfor automatically kand continuously checking and recording/machine operations throughout a shop or plant. My novel automatic electrical time or production recording system is adapted chiefly to shops or plants comprising a large number, or a series of individual machines, such as lathes, milling machines, looms or the like, each beingl driven by an individual electrical motor', as is now commonly the practice in machine plants, rolling mills, textile mills and the like.

The object ofimy invention is to'eliminate all direct time keeping operations by the workmen, such as punching atime clock or the like, and to placevthe time keepingsystem entirely within the,control of time keepers or operators remotely located at some central time-keeping or work dispatching oiiice or recording room, having control over the entire shop,vplant or factory.

A further object of my invention, moreover, is to record. time, not merely by the presence oflthe workmen in the plant, or at their 'respective machines, that is, not merely lbycheckiiig the `workmen in and out, but to record,:as nearly as possible within practi-V cal limits, the actual productive time of the Workmen, that is, the time that each workman actively spends at his task. The latter end is attained by my invention, by recordingl what may be termed machine time instead of the man time which forms the basis .of most present systems employing recording time clocks'. Nove-l means are accordingly provided by my invention, automatically to arecord the actual time thateach machine is in operation onf productive work; `novel means `being provided however, to allow, or compensate for a normal stoppage of the 'machina such as is necessary for changing the work in the machine? and for adjusting tools, and means also for compensating tor `any lexcusable stoppage ot the machine, -othertlian the normal stoppage required for changing work, as in the event of a breaka fraction of a minute to three,

chine is stopped for a limited and predetermined perio'd of time, such time being adjustable `or variable at the will of the time keeper, so as to allow for what may be termed a normal stoppage of the machine, as will be i required ordinarily for changing a tool or the work, without any stoppage of the time recording operation.

Thus, according to my invention, moveover, the time record, in the central recording room, will be continued so longias the particularmachine is in operation, and also during a 'certain predetermined normal stoppage period allowed for the particular machine, which may be varied anywhere from four, or five minutes or more, depending upon the nature of the work. If however, the machine is stopped for a greater period of time, the recording operation in the recording room, for the particular machine, will automatically cease, until the machine is again set into operation.

In order that the machinetimerecord thus produced, may be used as a just and fair time record of the workman assigned to the particular machine, and as a basis of his compensation orwages, it is also necessary to record machine time during certain idl e periods of the machine in excess of the predetermined normal stoppage periods during which the auxiliary electrical signalling circuits and devices are provided, cooperating with and superimposed upon the recording circuits and instruments hereinbefore mentioned, for enabling a workman Ato maintain his time'record (in the recording room), for certain idle periods, herein designated as excusable stoppage periods. In the event that a machine must be shut down for some excusole cause, for a period of time greater than the normal stoppage yperiod, that is, for a period greater than that ordinarily required for changing the work in the machine, the machine operator or workman need merely operate a suitable auxiliary signalling 'circuit, by actuating a suitable switch in the cirl cuit, located in the immediate vicinity of the machine Aand lwithin easy reach of the workman. 'Ihe operation by the workman, of an auxiliary signal circuitfwill then have the effect of producing a visible 0r audible signal (preferably the former as a colored light) both in the shop foremans oice as well as in the main, central recording room and also of continuing the time recording operation for the particular machine, so that a workman o will not lose anytime.

My invention contemplates the provision ofa number of such auxiliary signalling circuits for each machine, `o ne to correspond to each of theV possible causes of excusable stoppage such as:(l)l breakdown of thev machine, (2) necessary absence of the workman from his machine, (3) awaiting a new assignment, (4)

awaiting new stock, (5)

awaiting tools. It is understood that these causes of excusable stoppage may vary, de-` pendingupon the nature of the machine and ,I manufacturing operation, the particular illustrations herein having reference to ma- Thus, injthis 'par' ticular application of my invention, if the workman contemplates a stoppage of the maf chine shops or the like.

- chine for anything more than the normal change of the work or adjustment of the tools, it will be necessary forhim tooperate one of the several signalling circuits provided `for the purpose, m order tomaintain `his time record in the recording room. Thus, after the Workman has operated one of the signalling circuits, thereby lighting a suitably colored (orotherwise designated) light in the foremans office, as well as inthe remotely located mam recording room, it will be possible for the foreman of the particular shop, immediately to be apprised of any stoppage of a machine fin his charge and to minimize lsuch excusable stoppage by supplying the necessry assignment, stock, or tool without"de1ay, or remedying any breakdown `of the machine vin the shortest possible time. Thus, "moreover, by the series of auxiliaryv electrical Jsigna-Hin circuits and 'devices of my invention, coor mated with the main eleotricaltime `recording means, theexact condij tion of a machine and of every machine in the factory, .is visually indicated at all times at the central recording room, whereby the management can tellat a glance, whether or j not any particular machinel and each and every machine in the 4factory .is running,

whether or not the stoppage is due to the ab duce a permanent time record of this character, dfleach machine,y from which the total time of a workman, either for theday, or the week, or at'any particular time, may be bomputed mechanically by some commercial form of mechanical calculator or accumulator, such as forms of card tabulating machines, without any mental computation of any kind on the part ofthe time keeping clerks.

The time record, according to my invention, may be made on any lsuitable piece of paper, card, or the like, andmay be in the form of a straight or a curved line, the linear or angular measureof'which is calibrated to represent a certain measure of time. In the preferred embodiment of my invention, however, the time record is produced by means of a suitable punch or the like, which acts upon a suitable piece o-f paper or time card or. the like, and produces thereon a series of suitably spaced apertures', holes, or on recesses, at predetermined and fixed short in tervals of time; Veach aperturerepresenting therefore such predetermined length of time'. From a time record of vthis kind', the total time -may be computed directly from the record and without any mental/computationb but merely by passing such record card through a suitable mechanicalv counter, accumulator or the like, which will aggregate,

the number of punches, apertures for recessesr -head may be correspondingly reduced.

In some types of manufacture, it is quite possible to keep a machinerunning, without ythe machine producing or without any productive'ei'ort on the part of the workman, that is, merely, to keep the machine running idle. In machine shops this condition is usually referred .tov as cutting wind.

It is one of the objects of 'my invention', v

to enable the management of a plant, through the time keeper or operator, either to keep .L

a check upon the machines, as to whether or not they are cutting wind or whether they 'f are producing A further object of my invention is not only to keep a checkion the idling machines, but also, vif so desired, to step the time recording operatio'p if theidling 130V Imay provide a suitable signal light whichV continues fora certain length of time. Thus,

will indicate whenever the machine is running idle and if so desired, I may also stop the time recording operation during the idling interval. A choice of one of these vtwo alternatives is possibleby my invention.

- though it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which'my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my inventionhis not limited to the ,precise arrangement and organizationv of these inst-rumentalities as herein shown and described.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l represents a diagrammatic view, partly in perspective, illustrating the general manner in which one of the machines in a plant is connected withthe remotely located, central recording room, as well as with the shop office or foremans'room, by my novel '4 electrical time recording system; illustrating more particularly, the .distribution and location of the recording instrument panels and signal panels.

4 Figure 2 represents a diagram illustrating the electrical circuits forming part of my novel invention applied to but one machine, and illustrating also the mechanical elements of my invention, in a diagrammatic manner. v Figure 3 represents a diagram, similar to that shown in Figure 2, illustrating a slightly modified embodiment of my invention.

Figure t represents a frontjelevation of'one of the series of recording and signalling instruments or units comprising the main instrument panel in the central recording room.

Figure 5 represents a plan view ofa recording unit, on a slightly enlarged scale, showing some of the structuralfdetails of the same.

Figure 6 represents a vertical section on line 6-6 of Figure 5, illustrating the rear view of a recording unit.

Figure 7 represents a side elevation a unit taken generally/ on line 7-7 of Figure 5.

Similar reference characters indicate like parts.

Referring to the foregoing gures of the ,drawings, which are diagrammatic in nature to illustrate the general principles, rather than the {inal and minute mechanical details, 1 designates the machine; `a conventional lathe or other machine tool. lllhile a lathe has been chosen for the purposes of illustration, it is to be understood that my novel electricaltime recording system is applicable to anymachine which. is vprovided with individual electrical drive, such as the electrical motor 2, as for instance a loom, a knitting lmachine, or the like. The electrical motor 2 may be suitably mounted either directly upon the lathe, as is frequently the practice, or otherwise, and is operatively connected with the lathe through the belt 3 and the stepped pulleys 4 and 5. Theelectrical driving motor 2 may be of any type, such as a direct or alternating current motor, and may be either single or polyphase, and may be shunt, series, or compound wound, or of the induction type of motor. In the particular illustration shown, 6, 7 and 8 designate the wires of a three phase alternating current electrical v supply line or an electrical power circuit which feeds directly into a lsuitable starter 9, which may be of any desired type, depending upon the nature of the motor, and which, in the particular illustration, is represented as an auto-transformer type of starter commonly employed with induction motors, having merely a starter handle l0. From the starter 9 the wires 11, 12 and 13, lead into the motor 2. This is shown diagrammatically in Figures I1,2 and 3.

My novel time recording system depends primarily upon the current which passes into the motor of the particular machine. Thus, according4 to my invention, the series of recording instruments in the remotely located central recording station or room are controlled by a corresponding series of primary electrical record controlv circuits each of which is shunted across a suitable portionof the feed line leading into one of the series of electrical motors 2, which drive the various machines, in such a manner, that the electrical current in, or the voltage across these primary record control circuits, will' always be proportional to the current passing through the particular motor 2.

Accordingly, I may insert into one of the feed lines 11, 12 or 13, a suitable fixedor adjustable shunt 14,*which may be of any desired resistance, depending upon the resistance of the particular primary record control circuit, as well as the size of the particushunted across, that is, connected tothe ltwo opposed terminals of the shunt 14, whereby a volt-age is maintained in the primary record control circuit and across the wires l5 and 16,

which will be proportional to the current passing through the particular lead 11, and hence through the motor 2. It is to be understood that the current passing throughA any one of the wires 11, 12 and 13, is equal`to thatpassing through any'other of said sevveral wires of the motor load circuit. While in the illustrations shown, the shunt 14 is represented merely diagr'ammatically and isinserted openly in the wires 11, in actual practice, suchv shunt will either/he embodied in the starter 9, or encased and concealed in vany other suitablenhousing, which Will be permanently locked, so that the shunt and the primary record control circuit canl not be tampered with, in any Way. Similarly, in actual practice, the leads 15 and 16must also necessarily be concealed Wires, which can not easily be tampered With, or which can not be tampered With, Without detection. y

The primary record cont-rolV circuit Wires 15 and 16, are conducted to the remote central ofice or recording room 18, and to one of the series of recording instruments 0r units 20, on the recording or instrument board or panel 17. Each and every machine in the plant or factory is similarly connected to one of the units 20upon the instrument panel 17. r The instrument or recording board or panel 17 may be positioned in any desired manner Within the recording or time keeping. room 18, at some central pointin the plant, and several such instrument boards 17 -may be provided to correspond to the several' shops'or divisions of a plant, in a manner quite simiy,lar to the division of the switch boards in a telephone central oice. Thus, in Figure 1, l have merely illustrated one instrument board or panel 17 corresponding to one shop, positioned in an upright manner'behind any suitable Jrecord desk or cabinet 19.

Thus upon the instrument panel 17 shown in perspective view in Figure 1, there are mounted a series of recording unitsdesig nated by the numeral 20, one corresponding to each individual machine, throughout the plant, shop or division of the plant', and preferably identified by suitable numerals corre- .panel 17, and extending across the entire Width thereof, and actuated at oneend by any suitable timing mechanism 22, Which may be a motor driven clock gr any other chronometric driving'mechanism. The shaft 21, ifs

preferably driven at one revolutionv anhour,

that is, atthe rate of speed of the minute hand of a clock. In the illustrations shown in Figures 1 and 4, each horizontal Crow of units '20,

-is actuated by a common timing shaft 21, a separate timing` shaft 21 being provided for each horizontal row of units. The 'several timing shafts 21 may be provided With separate chronometric driving rmechanisms 22, or may be intergeared and driven by a single common mechanism 22. Thus 1n Figures 5 ,and 6, the shaft 21 is shown broken, to indicate that merely that portion thereof. is illustrated, which corresponds to the unit 20,

lustrated in detail in these figures.

Each unit 20, includes suitable bearing brackets 23 and 23, to support a feed screw 24. A gear 25 is mounted on one end of the feed screw 24 and is permanently intergeared ,with the timing shaft 21, by any suitable means, such as driving gear or pinion 27, carried by the tim- Aing shaft 21. The. intermediate or idle gear 26 may be suitably pivoted at 28, upon an extension of the bracket 23. The ratio bctvveen the timing shaft 21 and the feed screw or shaft 24, may' be' any desired ratio, depending upon the rate of the longitudinal feeding motion desired. A rigid guide rod`l29 is also supported between the two brackets 23 and 23, so as to act as a guide for the carriage 30, illustrated particularly in Figures 5, 6 and 7, which is in' threaded engagement With the feed screw 24, and is guided loosely upon the guide rod 29 by the suitable bearing members 31.-

The carriage 30 carries asuitable pin or horizontal4 projection 32, vvhich projects through-an elongated slot or aperture 33, in the panel 17,*and beyond the panel to a slight extent, so as to engage a suitable time 'cardy34,.by projecting therethrough at a `suitable point. The timecard 34, is in turn guided inl a horizontal direction upon the y outer face of the panel 17, by any suitable means, such as the horizontal guide strips 35 and 36 respectively, which overlap the horizontal edges of the time card, as shown particularly, in Figures -4 and 7. By this means .the time card 34`W`ill be moved in the idle gear 26, and the 1 horizontal directionby means of the carriage 30 and the pin-32, at the same rate as the carriage 30, andhence in a predetermined and fixed timed relation to the timing shaft 21.

In order'to produce a permanent visible or other record upon the time card 34, any one of several means may be resorted to, one of Which is shown'in Figures 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7. Thus in these figures means are shown for producing a linear mark upon the time card,

by means of ink or otherwise, the linear measure of Which represents the active Working time of the particular machine.

Thus, in this modification of my invention, l may provide an arm 38, suitably pivoted at 39, and having the xfront end thereof projectingv through a suitable aperture in the panel 17 and carrying an inking device 40, which may be of any suitable construction, such as the glass i'nk reservoir and siphon pen illustratedl more particularly in Figure 7 havinga suitable Writing point 41, which will normally bear-against the front surface y of the time card 34, thereby to leave an inked mark thereon, yas the card is moved horizontally in front of the inking point41.

The arm 38, and' the various elements connected therewith are so proportioned as to '"lighter than the rear portion. By this overbalancing of the front part, the inking device 40 will normally be raised in an upper portion, so as to press' the inking poin't 41 thereof, against the time card 34. To the rear end of the'farm 38 there is pivotally secured a solenoid core Yor plunger 42, by means of thepivote pin 43. The plunger 42 is of suitable wrought iron, and extends through the center of a suitable solenoid 44, adapted to lift said core42 in an upward direction, when energized, thereby to render the, recording mechanism inoperative.

Thus, the inking device will normally produce a linear mark upon the time `card 34, so long as the solenoid 44 is not energized. Vhenever an electrical current is passed through the solenoid 44, however, of suf- -cient magnitude,'the plunger 42 is raised, andthe front end of the arm 38 islowered, whereby the inking point 41 is retracted from the surface of the time card 34, and the linear record mark upon said card is thus broken or discontinued. l

In order to energize the solenoid 44, whenever the machine, corresponding to the pary ticular recording unit, is stopped and more particularly to energize said solenoid only when the particular machine has stopped for apredetermined length of time, that is the time allowed for changing workl or other @normal stoppage.period,I have devised novel electrical time lag and relay switches,

forming part of my novel system and illustrated particularly in Figure 2, in a diagrammatic manner. The mechanical features of said time lag`device are shown particularly 1n Figures 45 (Figures 2 and`3) comprising a pivotally mounted magnetic' core 46, in the form of a relatively thin blade of sectoral shape, pivoted atan upper point 47, and carrying a v movable contact 48, upon a suitable resilient spring arm 49. The pivoted magnetic core 46, carried by the pivot 47, is supported from the pivot brackets 50, which in turn are-carried by the outer housing 51 of the relay i solenoid 52. Thel solenoid 52 is provided with an aperture extending therethrough, adapted to receive the magnetic core 46. The

solenoid 52, includingthe housing 5 1 thereof,

as well as the pivot rackets 50, are in turn pivotally supported, preferably upon the rearl surface of the instrument-panel 1 7, on a horiadjusted about a horizontal axis,

tionary contact may also be adjustable, as

' ficiently to raise 5, 6 and7.` Accordingly,!eacl1A recording unit includes a primary or under-A load relay switch or contacting mechanism' from the battery or other source of electrical Yillustrated in Figures 2 and 3. By this means, the action of the .primary relay switch 45' may be advanced or retarded, that is, adjusted to any desired current flow in the primary record control circuit 15, 16 andff52.

As will be seen in Figures 2 and 3, the conductors 15 and 16 of the primary record control circuit are connected in series with i the solenoid 52 of the primary relay contacting mechanism 45. The resistance of the shunt 14 and the resistance of the primary record control circuit, including the wires 15 and 16 as well as the winding of the sole'- noid 52, are so proportioned, that when the motor 2 is running under a normal working load, the'solenoid. 52 will be energized sufand hence to withdraw the magnetic core 46, a sufficient extent,so as to separate the contacts 48 and 53, and thus to. break the secondary record control circuit of which the contacts 48 and 53 form a part. The contacts 48 and 53 of the primary 'relay contacting mechanism 45, are connected in series, through suitable conductors 54, 55, 56 and 57. 'with any suitable source' of electrical energy, such as the'battery 58 and -also in series with a signal 59, and the- Thus, so long as the particular motor 2 is 100 Y in operation, and in lconsequence thereof, a current passes through the primary record control circuit, that is, 'the wires 15 and 16 thereof and the solenoid 52,' thecontacts 48 and 53 will be open and no current will pass through the magnetic winding 60. As the motor 2 is stopped, however, and thus no current passes through .the shunt 14 and hence the "wires 15 and 16 of the primary record control circuit, and the solenoid 52, the contacts 48 and 53 are automatically closed by gravity and the magnetic Winding 60 is thus energized by the electrical current energy 58. l l

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the magnetic winding 60 is wound-about the lower horizontal portion 62 of a generally horseshoe shaped magnetic core,-the two upright limbs63` of which approach each other at an upper point so as to form two opposed magnetic poles. The magnetic core 61 may be I supported rigidly 'upon the rear, of the panel 17 in any suitable manner, and in the illustrations shown, itis carriedfby a suitable 125 horizontal bracket, to which it the screw 64. l y The magnetic core of the timerelay 61 is(l Y so `positioned with respect 'to' the timing is secured by shaft ,21 that the two opposed poles'63of 130 Vthe brackets said magnetic core willibe positioned -,on

veither side of the timing shaft, as .shown particularly in Figures 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7. AEach of the recording units 20, also includes a constantly revolving driving clutch member 65, (Figures 5 and 6) which is keyed to the timing shaft 21 by any suitable key designated by the numeral 66, so as always to revolve with the timin i shaft. The driving clutch member is pre erably made of brass or any other non-magnetic material, and carries a suitable driving clutch disk or plate plates 68 and 69 is to relieve any longitudinal 'thrust upon the timing shaft-21.

A. hollow tubular time lag shaft 72 is loosely mounted upon 'the timing shaft 21, and may also the stationary bearing 73, carried by any suitable means such as the bracket 74. The tubular time lag shaft 72 carries a driven clutch plate 75, juxtaposed to the driving clutch plate or disc 67, and adapted to coact` therewith so as to impart a rotary motion to the tubular time'lag shaft 72, when it is pressed against the driving clutch plate or disc 67, with sucient pressure. rllhe driven clutch plate or disk 75 is made of soft wrought iron, so as to be attracted by the stationary, so

e manner,

63 of the time relay 61. Thus. shaft 72,-will be inactive or long as the4 magnetic winding 60 is not energized. Whenever the magnetic winding 6() is energized in the manner deopposed poles the time lag scribed hereinbefore, the driven clutch disk is drawn up against the driving clutch disk 67, -thereby'establishing a frictional engagement between time lag shaft 72 to revolve at the speed of the timing shaft 21. 4

'lo the outer end of the time lag shaft 72, a movable contact arm 7 6 issecured by means of the set screw 77 or other suitable means; said contact arm 76 carrying an electrical time relay contact 78 at its free end, which is inoperative alignment with a corresponding stationary electrical contact 7 9, which is carried by the arcuate supportin bracket 8O and is electrically insulated therefrom. The arcpate supporting bracket may be rigidly and stationarily secured in any suitable as for instance, by means of the spacing lugs 81, carried by the lmagnetic core of the time relay 61. The electrical con-` nection to the movable contact 78, may be be suitably journalled within' the two, and causing the made through the shaft72 o r by any or the like, while the stationary Contact 79 may be connected through a terminal binding post 82.

The stationary contact 79 is positioned .slightly to-one side of'the vertical axial line' particularly in Figure 7. rlhus, the arcuate supporting bracket 80 may be provided with aI suitable number of spaced apertures 83, into.

which-a suitable stop pin Sli is adapted to nt, against which the contact member 78 is normally adapted to rest. Thus, by positioning the stop pin 84: in any one of the spaced apertures 83, the normal or inoperative position of the movable Contact, 78 may be varied, and hence the normal distance between the `movable and stationary contacts 78 and 79, may also be varied at will. A

Since the operative engagement between the two clutch disks-67 and 75 may beestablished by the energization of the magnetic winding 60, regardless of the angular position of said clutch disk 75, time lag shaft 72 and the contact arm 7 6,v it will beseen, that the lapse of time between the energization of the magnetic winding 60, that' is, the lapse of time between the instant of engagement of the clutch disks 67 'and 75, and the establishment of contact between the movable and stationary contacts 78 and 79, will be controlled entirely by the normal distance between said contacts 78 and 79. Thus, assuming the timing shaft 21 .to.revolve at the rate of one revolution an hour, that is, at the rate of the. minute hand of a clock, it is apparent that the contact arm' 7 6 will revolve ata like rate, so long as the clutch disks 67 are maintained in operativeA engagement with each other, by the energization of the magneticwinding 60. ln the particular illustration in Figure 7, the apertures 83 are spaced from each other at approximately 24 degrees. At the rate of one revolution an heur, the distance would thus represent a period of four minutes. Thus, with the particular adjustment of the pin 84 shown in Figure 7, it will require four minutes for contact to be made between the movable andpstationary contacts 78 and 7 9, from the instant of engagement between the clutch ldiscs 67 and 75, that is, approximately four minutes from the time the magnetic winding is energized (by closing of the primary relay 45, as mentioned hereinbefore), or approxipropergrounding of thesuitable friction contact mately fourminutes from the time themotor 2 'is stopped and the current ceases to iiow through said motor.

This time interval, or timelag between the instant that the motor 2 stops and the instant that the contact is established between the contacts 78 and 79, is the normal stop the signal light 59.

The signal light ,59 (suitably mounted y page period mentioned heretofore.

The movable and stationary contacts 78 and 79 of the time relay 6l are placed in series withthe liftin solenoid 44, described hereinbefore, and a so in serieswith an electrical signal light 85, which may be suitably7 colored or otherwise identified, and a' source of elec-- trical energy which'ma'y be the same source 58, that is, the battery described hereinbefore. The connections 86, 87, 88, 55 and 89, serve to form this series circuit between the contacts 78 and 79 and the solenoid 44 vand the-signal light 85. The signal light 85,-as Wellias the signal light 59 described hereinbefore, may

be suitably mounted upon the panel 17 in j proximity to the corresponding recording instrument, and form a part of the recording unit 20. 7 e

As mentioned hereinbefore, the visible and permanent record, upon the time card 34, will be produced so long as the solenoid 44 isV not energized, since the writing point 4l of the inking device is brought`to bear'against the surface 'of the time card 34by 4the forceA of gravity on the arm 38. The moment that a contact is established, however, between the movable and stationary contacts 78 and 7 9 wrespectively, of the time'relay6l, and an electrical'current'is passed through these con'- f vtacts and through the solenoid 44 (as well as p circuit.

ing 52, the magnetic through the light 85), the plunger or core 43 .within the solenoid 44 is raised, thereby deflecting the arm 38- and thus withdrawing the inking point 41 from thesurface of the time card 34, and thus interrupting and discontinuingthe visible time record.. The time record is represented inthe form of a line 90- in Figure 2.

Thus, itwill be seen from the foregoing,-

that so long 'as the motor 2 is in operation, the contact 45 will be open, due to the energization of the primary or under-load relay winding 52, through the primary record control In this conditionpA therefore, the magnetic winding 60 will not be energized,` and hence the contact arm 76 of the time relay 61, willbe stationary in its lower, normal, inoperative position. In this condition therefore, the solenoid 44 will not be energized and hence the permanent visible time record will be continued upon the time card 34. The instant that the motor 2 is shut down, however, and the current ceases to low through said motor and hence through the shunt 14, and ceases to How through the primary record control circuit and through the relay windcore 46 will be released the motor 2 continues romQsaid magnetic winding 52, and hence urged by gravity, will drop a slight distance, and thus etsablish a contact between the mov able contact 48 and the stationary contact 53, thereby establishing an electrical circuit from the source of electrical current 58,

through the magneticwinding ,60, as Well as passage of a current through the magnetic l winding 60 instantly etects'an operative engagement between the clutch discs 67 and`75, through the action of the magneticpoles 63 upon the soft iron magnetic clutch disc and thereby sets into motionv the contact arm 76, at the rate of movement of the timing shaft 2l. Accordingly if the stoppage of or a greater period of time than the time'lag correspondingto the particular setting of the arm 76, (in the par ticular illustration in Figure 7, a period of four minutes). the contact 78 will be brought into operative engagement with the stationary contact 7 9 thereby establishing, aiter the lapse of such predetermined period of time, (the normal stoppage period) an electrical circuitthrough the source of electrical en yergy 58, as well as the signal light 85, and the solenoid 44; thereby raising the magnetic core or plunger 42 and thus withdrawing the inking point 41, from the surface of the time card 34. Thus, only after the lapse or lag of a predetermined period of time, after the stoppage of the machine, will the time record be discontinued, and it is thus that the time record is automatically continued during the periods -of normal stoppage described hereinbefore.

vImmediately upon settirig the machine into operation, the time record is again continued, since the circuit through contact 45 is broken and the magnetic clutch hence becomes inactive, and the solenoid 44 de-energized. The signal light 85, arbitrarily colored green, will thus indicate when the machine is stopped, for a period in excess of the predetermined normal stoppage period and the time record has been discontinued.

As mentioned hereinbefore, the time lag or the normal stoppage period,- may be .varied between suitable limits, by varying the normal position of the contact arm 76 of the time relay 61, in a manner described hereinbefore. This variation or adjustment, permits the adaptation of my novel time recording syst-em to various types of machinery and manufacturing operations. Thus, in certain types of work, the time lag that is, the normal stoppage period or the time re-' yao uired to chan e the lwork ma be very short n q g i y y i ductive time of said motor 2', and machine 1,'

while in othertypes of Work, this time interval may be rather long.

The magnetic winding 52, upon the'housing 51, is also preferably pivotally mounted inany suitable manner, as for instance upon the instrument panel` 17, about the pivot screw 93, so that it may be deflected in an arcuate direction or angula-rly adjusted, las indicated by the arrows 91 and 92 see Figure 2. By means of the lock nut 94,- the angular position of the winding 52 and of the housing 51, may be fixed. By means of this angular adjustment of the winding 52, and oi the housing 51 thereof, the eective lor relative distance between said winding 52 and the pendant pivotally mounted magnetic core 46, may be varied. Thus, assuming that the core 46 will in its normal pendant position eect a contact between the movableA contact 48 and the stationary contact 53, if the magnetic winding 52 is deiected in the direction oi' the arrow 91, the distance between the same andl the magnetic core 46, will be increased, while if it is deflected in the opposite direction of the arrow 92, the distance between the core and the winding will be decreased. By thus )increasing the distance between the magnetic winding 52 and-the core 46, they amount of current necessary to be passed through said winding 52, in order to raisethe core 46, and thereby to break the contact 45, will also be increased. Similarly, by deflecting the magnetic winding -52 in the opposite direction of 'the arrow 92, the current'required to be passed through the winding 52 in order to break the contact 45, will similary be decreased.

By this ymeans, the operation of the primary relay';45, may be adjusted to any desired amountof current passing through the motor '2, and hence to any size of motor. Thus, moreover, the contact maybe kept open with the slightest amount of current passing through the motor 2, as for instance,

a no-load current, that is, the currentpassing through the motor when the latter is merely idling, or by dellecting the magnetic winding 52 inthe direction of the arrow 91, the effective current required to maintain the relay 45 open, may be increased to an amountl corresponding to the load current inthe motor 2. lt will thus be seen that by this adjustment of the contact 45, it is possible to control the permanent time record upon the time card 34, either by an idle or no-load operation of the motor 2, or by the operation of said motor under a normal working load. lf, therefore.. the relay 45 is so adjusted, by the proper deflection of the magnetic winding 52, as to establish contact between the contact members` 48 and 53, whenever` the current passing through the motor either ceases entirely or merely drops to a noload current; then the time record 34 will not only indicate the running time of the `motor 2, and the rInachine 1, but will actuallyindicate the proi that is, the running time of said motor and machine, under a load.- The choice between a load time record, or productive time record, and ano-load time record, lies env tirely with the management of the particu-- lar plant or factory, and may be determined idle, that is, running under no load, or as it y is commonly termed in machine shops, cutting wind. F or this purpose, l may provide an auxiliary no-load relay mechanism 94,

similar to the primary relay mechanism 45,

connected electrically parallel thereto, in-

cluding a similar magnetic winding 95, mounted upon a housing 96, and also including-thev pivotal support 97, the brackets 98, the magneticcore 99, the movable contact carried thereby, and the adjustable stationary contact 101. 'llhe magnetic winding 95, is similarly shunted across the two primary record control circuit wires 15 and" 15, so as to be energized in direct proportion to the current passing through the motor 2, while the two contacts'lOO and 101 are connected in series with a source of electrical energy, such as the battery 58 and a suitably' colored signal light 102, also positioned on the mai'n'instrument panel 17,fby means of the connections 103 and 104. By so adjusting the angular position ofthe winding 95, as to release from its hold` the magnetic core 99, whenever the load current through the motor 2 fallsbelow a predetermined minimum, it is possible to produce a visible signal by the light 102, whenever the n iotor is running under no load. By this means it is therefore possible to tellv at a glancejust which machines, are idlinu and which are running at a working load, and which are stopped entirely and noty recording time. n

Thus, if an auxiliary or no-load relay mechanism 94 is employed, together with the auxiliary signal light 102, the signal light 59 may be adjusted to indicate total stoppage of the machine, while the signal light 102 may be adjusted to indicate the idle running of the machine. The adjustment of these two ysignals-lights, as .well as the adjustment of the magnetic clutch of the time relay mecha'y nism 61, is entirely Vdependantfon the character of the machine and the character of the i work, and upon the dierence between the no load current and the load current of the particular machine. It will thus be apparent that if on relatively light machines, or machines doing relatively light work, the no an automatic velectrical time recording system for recording the actual machines, but also to permit of the continuationof the automatic permanent time record, with the stoppage or no load running of the machine beyond the certain predetermined time lag or normal stoppage period for changing'the work, in the eventVtliat the stoppage oi the machine ,beyond this predetermined period is due to some excusable cause, such as the break-down of the machine or a shortage of stock, or a necessary absence of the workman from the machine or the like. The excusable causes or" a continued stoppage of the machine, may thus be catalogued under a limited number of groups or headings. For the purpose of illustration, l have merely employed ive such causes and have.ap-

plied my novel system thereto, it being uri-- derstood that this number of exc'usable7 causes forstoppage maybe more or less dependantupn the character of the work, the plant or the machine.

Referring more particularly to a machine shop under normal conditions, the most irequent causes are 1) breakdown of machine, (2) necessary absence of the workman from his machine,i awaitingnew assignment or job, (4) awaiting stock or material, or (5;)

awaiting new tools, or sharpening a tool.

'lhese causes are designated'herein arbitrarily, by the capital letters A, B, C, D, and E respectively.

According to m invention therefore ll b i provide a series of auxiliary record control circuits connected in parallel with each other,

and shunted across the solenoid 44 of the recording unit 20 upon the main instrument panel 17. Each of these auxiliary control circuits, designated by the letters A, B, C, D, and E, comprises rst, a suitable switch located in the immediate, vicinity of the starter 9, that is, within-reach of the machine operator or Workman, anddesignatedy by the numerals 106,107, 108, 109 and 110 respectively. The switches 106 to 110 inclusive, mayy be of any `suitable ty'pe,` and are preferably P011 a suitable panel..

117, upon by colors, numbers, letters, or the like, as the e ectrical 'lights 111, 112,-113, 114, and 115 working time of also mounted a corresponding series of' electrical signals suitably identifiedv are preferably positioned directly above or in some uniform relation to the corresponding switches 106, to 110 respectively. One side of each of the auxiliary control switches 106 to 110 inclusive, is Iconnected by means of the common connection 116 to one side of tice, where they are connected in series with a corresponding set .ot signal lightsv 124 to 128 inclusive, respectively, which are then connected in series, through the connections 125 to 133 inclusive, with a third and similar set of signal lights 134 to 138 inclusive upon the main recording panel 17 in the remotely located recording room 18. The latter signal lights 134l to 138 inclusive are positioned upon the panel 17 in the immediate vicinity and are designated or identified by suitable colors or otheil indicia similar to that einployed on the workmans "signal panel 117 and the shop superintendents signal panel 128. Each oi the auxiliary record control and signal circuits is then connected to the other side of the solenoid 44, by the connection 139.

By this means, a shunt circuit may be established around the'solenoid 44, through any one or" a series of several parallel auxiliary record control and signal circuits, by merely closing any one of the several switches 106 to 110 inclusive. rllhe establishment of any one of these parallel-shunt circnits around the solenoid 44, with a proper relation of the resistance of the three series signal lights in each circuit, to the resistance of the solenoid 44, will cut down the current through the vsolenoid to "such anextent, that it will not Athat required to changethe `work in the mathat is, in excess of the normal stopchine,y page period I:tor which the time lag, or time relay switch '61 is adjusted on the instrument panel17, for4 any one of the several causesv 'of excikisablestoppagei enumerated hereinbefore, it will be necessary-fon the workman to close one ofthe several signal switches 106 oi the signal lights 59, and 102,

to 110 inclusive, in order that his time record ,may be continued without any lossof time. l

The closing of any one ofthe several switches 106- to 110 inclusive,- automatically port to the oflice of the foreman in order not only to explain the cause of the stoppage,-

but also to make the necessary preparation for repair in case of a breakdown, or for securing the necessary stock, tool or assignment.v Tn'addition to thus eliminating any loss of time due to necessary or excusable stoppage of the machine, the plant superintendent or production manager may also tell at a glance, by a` visual inspection ofthe signal Vboard in the main central recording roomjust how many of the machines are stopped and recording, that is, stopped with an excusable cause. By this means, a constant and accurate check may be kept not only upon the individual machine in the plant, but a check may also be kept upon each particular shop or division df the plant, and moreovelg'the general eciency of the plant may be estimated at a glance.

One of the objectsof lmy present invention, is not only to produce a visible and permanent time record automatically, in a remotely located central otlice, but also to produce a permanent time record, from which the total time of a machine or the correspondling workman, may be obtained without any mental computation, that is, from which the total time may be computed by some mechanical device, such as an accumulator, counter, tabulating machine or the like. Thus, instead of producing a linear mark upon a time card 34, by ink or other means, ll may produce a series of spaced apertures, recesses, or notches, ina suitable time card, tape,or circular time disc or the like, each of said apertures or notches representing a predetermined interval of time, which may then be passed through a suitable counter, accumulator or the like, as for inst-ance, the present commercial forms of tabulating machinesfwhich will mechanically add up the number of such apertures or recesses, and thereby automatically compute the total or aggregate time punched or cut into said time card or disc.

Thus, according to this feature of my invention, T provide an electrical or other card punching device, suitably mounted upon the panel 17, which will take the place of the inking device 40, and which is actuated by an electrical circuit, independent of the other Thus, a punching device which is formed of wrought iron, and adapted to he actuated by a solenoid 142 surrounding the same, and guided by the axial gulde rod 143, and the axial punch rod144. The rod 143 may be slidably mounted in the guide 145, while the punch 144 may be guided in- `the stationary support 146. The stationary support 146 also carries a stationary female die member 147, having an aperture 148 therein, in operative alignment with the punch rod 144, adapted to coact therewith to punch suitable apertures through the time card 149.

The time card ,149 is moved longitudinally at a predetermined rate by means similar to 'that shown in Figure 2, and described heretofore. Tn order to energize the solenoid 142 and hence to'cause the plunger 141 to force the punch 144 through the die 147, any suitable periodic switch may be provided, prop- 4erly timed with relation to the rate of movement of the time card 1149, so as to'cause a hole to be punched through the card at suitable predetermined intervals. The spring 15() interposed between the stationary support 145 and the terminal knob 151, is adapted to Withdraw the punch into an inoperative position.

Thus the solenoid `142 may be connected, by means of the connection 152, to the battery 58 or any other source of electrical supply, and is grounded to the apparatus, through the connection 153. A suitable timing contact cam 154 may be provided upon the feed screw 24. The timing cam 154 may be of any suitable construction, as for instance that illustrated in Figure 3, in which the cam proper is formed of insulating material, provided with a suitable contact member 155` intermediate the high` and low points of the cam. The contact member may also be grounded, whereby an easy connection may be made therewith. Through the electrical connection 156, the opposed side of the storage battery 58, or other source of electrical supply, is connected to a suitable contact member 157,- which comprises a resilient follower member 158 and a contact member 159, which is adapted to ride on the timing cam 154 and to vestablish an electrical connection, through the contact 155, at each revolution of the feed screw 24. Thus, at each revolution of the feed screw 24, and the corresponding linear movement of the card 149, an electrical current is passed through the solenoid 142, of sulicient strength to cause the plunger 141 to travel forward, and to force the punch 144 magnetic circuit through the time card149v Since the curseparate rotary member, which would be per-- manently intergeared with the timing shaft 24., 'lhe particular illustration in Figure 3, however, is merely to illustrate the principle,l that is, the inter-relation of the feed screw 24 and the electrical timing of the punching mechanism above described.

The electrical punching circuit, including the solenoid 142, also includes an electrobrealiing mechanism 160, comprising the two spaced contact members 161 and 162, between which an electrical connection is normally esetablislied by a suitable contact lug or blade 163, carried at 'the end ofa suitable plunger 16d and urged ,into contact by means of the helical compression spring 165. IThus', in the normal position ot the instrumennthe electrical connection is maintained between the points 161 and 162 and thus the card punching operation is ccntinued uninterruptedly. 'llhe plunger` 164, guided by any suitable means, such as stationary support 166, also carries a magnetic plunger or core 167. which corresponds to the plunger 42, shown in Figure 2, which issurrounded by the solenoid 44, similar to the one described heretofore. Thus. in this embodi- 'ment of my invention, the time relay circuit including the contacts 78 and 79 oil the time relay 61, will actuate not the lifting plunger 40, but-in this moditlcation, they will actuate f the plunger 16'?, with the eect that the conl ing, indicating,

tact or blade 163. will be withdrawn, thereby breaking the electrical circuit between the contact point 161 and 162, 'and thus interrupting the punching operation described heretoore.

turing operation or machine, and is arranged tothe current in the and that it may be more de-:-

`to raise or withdraw the inking devicement.

to function bythe variation of the current in the electrical power circuit supplying the particular machine, electrical apparatus, or the'like.

The principal components ofmy novel electrical system are, first, the primary control' circuit (14, 15 and 16 i'n Figures 2 and 3) which is preferably shunted into the electrical power circuit or one of the wires thereof, so as always to bear a current proportional power circuit, and 'li relay switch actuated by the current passing through the primary record control circuit. The relay switch, indicated generally by the numeral l5, in Figures 2 and 3, controls an electrical circuit including a source of electrical energy, and connected with the actuatingv magnetic winding of a time relay switch, indicated generally by the numeral 61. rl`he time relay switch in turn controls a source o'l electrical energy passing through the recording mechanism, whereby the time record is either started or stopped, as may be desir'- W able.

, 'llhus in the particular illustration or embodiment el my invention, disclosed in lligures 2 and 3, the time recording devices are 'rendered inoperative' by the current controlled by the time relay switch 61. A series of auxiliary-controler shunt circuits, ai'e then superimposed upon one of the electrical circuits intermediate the power circuit and the nal record control circuit, whereby the record Imay be continued uninterruptedly by the manual operation of one of the sereral auxiliary record control circuits, saidauxiliary control circuit also including a signal for indicating the operation of said auxiliary control. d

l/Vhile in the foregoing description, reference is made only to a working time record, it is within the scope of my invention to 'record also idlel9 time, as well as working time, or idle time may be recorded as an alternative to working time. rl`he two methods are complementary to each other.

-My invention moreover contemplates not only the recording of working operations or time at a remote point, but also for indicating the same Visually or otherwise, or as is shown in the drawings, for both recording and indicating the same. Thus by the combination of the electrical recording and indicating circuits, the exact condition of every machine in the shop or plant may be ascertained b mere inspection of the instrument board, wliile a permanent time record is automatically produced by the recording instru- While in Figures 2 and 3, two separate or independent relay switches 45 and 94, respectively, are shown, it is to be understood that the use of two such relay switches is o tional, since only one is re uired to control t e time relay swltch 61. 'lili e relay switch 94 is cmiay ployed only when it is desired to indicate the idle running of the machine, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. More0ver,'if it is desirable, the

time record may be produced not only upon the running time of a machine, but may be produced on the load running time of a inachine, that is, may be produced so as to exclude therefrom an idle running of the machine. This may be done by mereadjustment of the relay switch 45, that is by advancing the relay, so that it will operate upon even on a no-load current. y Y

Mynovel electricahtime system overcomes a deficiency of other automatic electrical time or production checking systems attempted heretofore. Thus, the prior electrical produc` tion indicators possessed the inherent defect in producing the visual indication as soon as the machine has stopped running, that is, did not allow for a normal stoppage of themachine, thereby only causing confusion by a constant operation of the indicator, that is, every time a machine stopped. rllhis has been eliminated by novel system, since only periods of absolute idleness are indicated visually or recorded upon the time record.V

Having thus described my invention, what li claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. An electrical time system including an electrical power circuit, a primary control electrical circuit electrically connected with said power circuit in such a manner that the current relation of said two circuits is iXed, a time relay switch, and electrical means intermediate said primary control circuit and said time relay for actuating said time relay switch with"k the diminution of the current in said power circuit.

2. An electrical time system, including an p electrical power circuit, a primary control circuit electrically connected with said power `circuit in such manner as to bear a constant current relation thereto, an under-load relay switch adapted to be energized by said primary contro] circuit, a time relay switch, an electrical circuit, including a source of elec- 1 trical energy, and said under-load `relay switch adapted to energize said time relay switch, a recording means, and an electrical circuit including said time relay switch and a source of electrical energy adapted to render said recording mechanism inactive when said circuit is energized by the closing of the time relay switch'.

3. An electrical time system, comprising an electrical power circuit, a normally open and inactive electromagnetic time relay switch, electrical means intermediate said power circuit and said time relay switch for operating the latter with a diminution'oil current in the former,`time recording mechanism and electrical means connected with and operated by said time relay switch and connected with a source of electrical energy for rendering said time recording mechanism inactive with the operation of said time relay switch. v

4. An electrical time system, comprising an electrical power circuit, a primary'control circuit electrically connected with said power circuit in such a manner as' to bear `a constant current ratio thereto, said primary control circuit including an under-load relay switch, adapted to be opened by a diminution of current in said power (circuit, a normally active time recording mechanism, electrical means intermediate said time recording mechanism and said undersload relayswitch to render said time recording mechanism inactive by the operationof said relay switch, thereby to discontinue a time record with a diminution of the current in the power circuit, and a manually operable auxiliary electrical record control circuit, superimposed upon said electrical means, to maintain said recording mechanism operative, if so desired, with a diminution of the current in the power circuit.

5. An electric time record system, comprising a power circuit, a control circuit in shunt thereon, a relay'switcli in said control circuit adapted to close when the current in said control circuit falls below a certainA minimum, a time switch adapted to be set in motion by the closing of said relay switch, a recording 

